Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and program

ABSTRACT

An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device that images an object image through an optical system; an image signal processing section having a function of combining a plurality of imaged images into a combined image piece, the imaged images being obtained while the imaging apparatus is swept; a position sensor capable of obtaining position information of the imaging apparatus; and a controller that processes information of the position sensor, wherein the controller sends a notification of an appropriate value of a sweeping angular velocity based on the detection information of the position sensor and outputs a warning signal when the sweeping angular velocity exceeds an appropriate range.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having a functionof combining a plurality of images together, and to an imaging methodand a program thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

In panoramic photography using a camcorder (a camera built in VTR), adigital camera, or the like, when shooting panoramic images whilestopping the sweeping motion of the camera at each stage or having acontinuous sweeping motion, it is necessary to sweep the camera at lowspeed in order to prevent blurring of the resulting images.

In the latter case, the shooting may require a high-speed shutter.

In regards to this, Japanese Patent No. 3928222 (Patent Document 1)proposes a shooting method that enables fast sweeping of a camera whilemaintaining an image resolution.

The technique used in this shooting method is a technique that enables acamera to shoot images as if it is focusing on one point by detecting asweeping direction of the camera and an angular velocity of the sweepingand changing the optical axis at the same angular velocity in a reversedirection of the sweeping, thereby negating a change in a resultingimage.

Although it is necessary to use an acceleration sensor or an angularacceleration sensor in order to implement the control method, JapanesePatent No. 3925299 (Patent Document 2) proposes a method that enablesappropriately to control the optical axis even when the sensors and afeedback circuit for controlling them are not provided.

In this case, the method is used as a monitoring system, in which thenumber of pulses applied to a stepping motor used for controlling ashooting direction is counted and an optical axis control is performedin accordance with the counted value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a method of shooting a plurality of times in different directionsfrom a point by setting the camera to a telescope mode to create awide-angle, high-definition image, the shooting is generally performedwith the camera mounted on an active pan tilt head fixed to a tripod;however, such a shooting can also be performed by a handheld camera.

Therefore, it is necessary to perform the shooting while sweeping thecamera by the hands, but it is difficult to obtain sufficiently goodimages unless the sweeping velocity maintains an appropriate value.

However, since the existing camera is unable to manage (monitor) thesweeping velocity, it is practically not possible to make adetermination as to whether or not reshooting is necessary immediatelyafter the shooting.

Thus, it is desirable to provide an imaging apparatus which is easy touse and capable of monitoring a sweeping velocity and enablingdetermination on whether or not reshooting is necessary immediatelyafter shooting, and an imaging method and a program thereof.

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an imaging apparatus including an imaging device that images anobject image through an optical system; an image signal processingsection having a function of combining a plurality of imaged images intoa combined image piece, the imaged images being obtained while theimaging apparatus is swept; a position sensor capable of obtainingposition information of the imaging apparatus; and a controller thatprocesses information of the position sensor, wherein the controllersends a notification of an appropriate value of a sweeping angularvelocity based on the detection information of the position sensor andoutputs a warning signal when the sweeping angular velocity exceeds anappropriate range.

Preferably, the imaging apparatus further includes a display unit, andthe controller displays the relationship between time and the sweepingangular velocity on the display unit together with the appropriaterange.

Preferably, the imaging apparatus further includes a speaker unit, andthe controller outputs a warning sound via the speaker unit when thesweeping angular velocity exceeds the appropriate range.

Preferably, the appropriate range is set based on a maximum sweepingangular velocity which is determined by a horizontal view angle, ahorizontal pixel count, and a shutter speed.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided an imaging method including the steps of: imaging an objectimage using an imaging device through an optical system having anoptical axis changing element that is capable of changing an opticalaxis thereof while sweeping the imaging apparatus; obtaining positioninformation of the imaging apparatus via a position sensor; sending anotification of an appropriate value of a sweeping angular velocitybased on the detection information of the position sensor; andoutputting a warning signal when the sweeping angular velocity exceedsan appropriate range.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a program for performing an imaging process, the programcausing a computer to execute the processes of: imaging an object imageusing an imaging device through an optical system having an optical axischanging element that is capable of changing an optical axis thereofwhile sweeping the imaging apparatus; obtaining position information ofthe imaging apparatus via a position sensor; sending a notification ofan appropriate value of a sweeping angular velocity based on thedetection information of the position sensor; and outputting a warningsignal when the sweeping angular velocity exceeds an appropriate range.

In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, a pluralityof imaged images obtained while the imaging apparatus is moved is inputto the image signal processing section.

Moreover, the position information of the imaging apparatus, detected bythe position sensor is input to the controller.

The controller sends a notification of the appropriate value of thesweeping angular velocity based on the detection information of theposition sensor. Moreover, the warning signal is output when thesweeping angular velocity exceeds the appropriate range.

Therefore, in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention,it is possible to monitor a sweeping velocity, enable determination onwhether or not reshooting is necessary immediately after shooting, andimprove the user-friendliness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of acamera apparatus employing an image processing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing the case of performing awide-angle imaging by the camera apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a precise combining processing unit;

FIG. 4 is a diagram graphically showing the output (sweeping angularvelocity) of a position sensor;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining an imaging mode according tothe first configuration of the present embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between an exposure periodof a CMOS image sensor, a readout period of stored charges, and anoptical axis control period;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a stitching image in a translationusing cross power spectrum (CPS);

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the process of extracting a parameterby block matching (BM), specifically showing the process of selectingfour images of good condition;

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the process of extracting a parameterby BM, specifically showing an example of performing BM at threepositions in a boundary;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the process of extracting aparameter by BM, specifically showing that the presence of lensdistortion leads to arched results of the BM;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the process of extracting aparameter by BM, specifically showing a case where an improper tiltingangle causes a right-to-left error;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the process of extracting aparameter by BM, specifically showing a case where a lateral deviationis generated by the presence of vertical expansion and contraction inthe right and left boundaries;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the process of extracting aparameter by block matching (BM) process, specifically showing anexample of an error generated in the rotation of an image;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining the process where afterthe process of extracting a parameter by BM is performed, errors can beminimized by expanding the BM to a large number of pieces and performinga translation;

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing the method for spatialarrangement based on continuously imaged images and sensor information;

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing the method for achievinghigh precision by correlating the continuously imaged images and thesensor information, specifically showing the zero correction of thestatic-state sensor values;

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing a method for achievinghigh precision by correlating the continuously imaged images and thesensor information, specifically showing the method for achieving highprecision via collaboration of shift information;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a zero point correction process of an angularvelocity sensor;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a shift amount correction process of anangular velocity sensor;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a shift amount acquisition method;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a method of assigning spatial coordinates froman imaged image; and

FIGS. 22A to 22D are diagrams for explaining an example of processingfor calculating a sweeping velocity.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of acamera apparatus as an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, a camera apparatus 10 of the present embodiment isconfigured to obtain a large number of images (16×8=128 pieces in FIG.2) by automatically or manually imaging a plurality of times indifferent directions from a point.

The camera apparatus 10 is configured to combine a large number of,e.g., several thousands of, images precisely without wrinkles to form aso-called panoramic image.

That is to say, the camera apparatus 10 has a function of creating apanoramic image from images imaged by a digital camera which mountsthereon a solid-state imaging device, e.g., a CMOS image sensor (CIS),and which is vertically or horizontally swept at a high speed.

The camera apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has thefirst to fifth characteristic configurations and functions below.

The first configuration will be described.

When a panoramic image is generated by imaging a plurality of imageswhile moving the camera apparatus 10 and then combining the imagedimages together, the optical axis of a lens (a shift lens) focusing theimage is controlled so as to negate the moving direction of the cameraand the angular velocity thereof.

In this way, the camera which is being moved can shoot images as if itis focusing on one point.

In this configuration, a CIS (CMOS Image Sensor) is used as thesolid-state imaging device, and the images are imaged by performing theabove-mentioned with respect to a partial line in the central directionof the CIS.

That is to say, the optical axis control is performed during a periodwhich corresponds to the sum of an exposure period and a readout periodof the partial line, and during periods other than the correspondingperiod, the optical axis is controlled to be returned to the vicinity ofthe center. The shooting direction of the camera at that time isperpendicular to the line of the CIS.

The camera apparatus 10 segments a portion of the CIS into a strip shapeand performs the optical axis control with respect to the strip-shapedportions, thereby generating a panoramic image at a high frame ratewithout reducing the resolution even when the camera is moved at a highspeed.

The second configuration will be described.

The camera apparatus 10 employs a technique that spatially arranges thecontinuously imaged images using the frame shift information obtainedvia an image recognition technique and the shift information obtainedfrom a position sensor.

Portions of which the information is not obtainable through this imagerecognition are replaced with the position sensor information, and theposition sensor information is used as auxiliary coordinates forconfirmation of the success in the image recognition or to be used whenthe image recognition has failed. The images that are spatially arrangedare combined into one panoramic image.

In this case, the camera apparatus 10 is configured as a camera thatimages a plurality of images in a state of being mainly held by hands,by imaging a plurality of times in different directions fromapproximately one point.

The camera apparatus 10 includes a position sensor that has both oreither one of a three-axis (or two-axis) acceleration sensor and a three(or two-axis) angular velocity sensor.

The camera apparatus 10 has a function of recording the positioninformation regarding the shooting direction in which the respectiveimages are imaged simultaneously with the imaging and combining theplurality of imaged images into a piece of image in situ.

The camera apparatus 10 calculates the relative positional relationshipof the images using an overlapping region of the images with the aid ofan image recognition function such as block matching and calculates thepositional relationship of the images based on various position sensordata.

Then, the camera apparatus 10 calculates more precise relativepositional relationship of the image via selective collaboration of thecalculated relative positional relationship and the positionalrelationship of the images.

Thereafter, the camera apparatus 10 specifies the absolute positionalrelationship of the respective images, related to orientations of thecenters of the respective images, such as, for example, a panning angle(longitude), a tilting angle (altitude), and a rolling angle(inclination) around the optical axis and performs precise automatedcombining using them as initial values.

The third configuration will be described.

The camera apparatus 10 employs a technique that records continuouslyimaged images by correlating frame shift information obtained via atechnique of image recognition and the shift information obtained from aposition sensor with each other.

The camera apparatus 10 calculates information, e.g., a pixel view angleof an image, a static-state value of a position sensor, and acorresponding pixel view angle of the position sensor value, which isindefinite on its own. The camera apparatus 10 has parameters, e.g.,offsets and gains and thus is able to make the information substantiallyidentical to the actual direction by changing the parameters.

The camera apparatus 10 statically detects static-state position data byan angle of a three-axis (or two-axis) acceleration sensor with respectto the direction of gravity and uses the position data as the initialvalues of the position information.

The camera apparatus 10 mainly calculates rotational movement in thevertical and horizontal directions of the camera by the time-integrationvalues of a three-axis angular velocity sensor, for example, and usesthe rotational movement as the direction data at the time when therespective images are imaged.

The camera apparatus 10 calculates relative positional relationship ofthe images using an overlapping region of the images with the aid of animage recognition function such as block matching. The camera apparatus10 simultaneously makes a determination as to whether or not thecalculation results are correct and calculates the positionalrelationship of the images.

When the calculation results are correct, the camera apparatus 10corrects the parameters based on this information of the positionalrelationship.

When the calculation results are not correct, the camera apparatus 10arranges the images using the position sensor values obtained based onparameters which have already been corrected.

The fourth configuration will be described.

The camera apparatus 10 has a function of outputting a warning signal toprompt users to reshoot upon detecting an influence of a moving object.

In regard to the detection of the moving object, the camera apparatus 10has a function of ensuring any portion of an object will appear in atleast two pieces of images with an overlapping ratio of 50% or more todetect the influence of parallax or the object with the aid of thesimilarity matching of a motion vector between adjacent images.

That is to say, the camera apparatus 10 outputs a warning signal toprompt users to reshoot upon detecting the moving object or theinfluence of parallax.

In the camera apparatus 10 that images a plurality of strip-shapedimages of a wide-range object with a single sweep and combines them intoone image, it is detected how much influence of parallax an object in aclose range is receiving, and users are prompted to reshoot the objectaround the viewpoint of the camera based on the detection results.

The fifth configuration will be described.

The camera apparatus 10 prompts users to reshoot by informing the usersof an appropriate value of the sweeping angular velocity (the speed atwhich the user sweeps the camera) and outputting a warning signal if thesweeping is too fast.

The camera apparatus 10 graphically displays time and output (sweepingangular velocity) of a position sensor (gyro sensor), respectively, onthe horizontal and vertical axes of a screen of a display unit 18, e.g.,an LCD. Since the maximum sweeping angular velocity is determined when ahorizontal angle of view, a horizontal pixel number, and a shutter speedare set, 60 to 80% of the maximum sweeping angular velocity is displayedon the graph as an appropriate range.

More detailed configuration and function of the camera apparatus 10having the above-described features will be described below.

The camera apparatus 10 is configured to include an optical system 11,an imaging device 12, an analog front-end (AFE) circuit 13, a positionsensor unit 14, a driver 15, a system controller 16, a memory 17, adisplay unit 18, an operation unit 19, and a speaker unit 20.

The optical system 11 focuses an object image onto an imaging plane ofthe imaging device 12.

The optical system 11 is configured to include a normal lens 111, ashift lens 112 as an optical axis changing element, and a mechanicalshutter 113.

The shift lens 112 has a function of changing an optical axis directionby the driving of the driver 15 in addition to the function of focusingan image.

The imaging device 12 is configured by, for example, a CMOS(complimentary metal oxide semiconductor) device or a CCD (chargecoupled device).

In the present embodiment, a CMOS image sensor will be described as anexample. In the above-described first configuration, a CMOS image sensoris used as the solid-state imaging device.

The imaging device 12 detects the object image obtained by the opticalsystem 11 by means of optical sensors arranged in a matrix on asemiconductor substrate to generate a signal charge, reads the signalcharge through a vertical signal line and a horizontal signal line, andthen outputs the image signal of the object.

When the imaging device 12 is formed by a CMOS image sensor, an exposurecontrol is performed by a global shutter and a rolling shutter which isan electronic shutter. The exposure control is performed by the systemcontroller 16.

The AFE circuit 13 removes, for example, a fixed pattern noise containedin the image signal from the imaging device 12, stabilizes the signallevel by the operation of automated gain control, and outputs theresulting image signal to the system controller 16.

The position sensor 14 detects the position of the camera apparatus 10to supply the detection results to the system controller 16.

The position sensor 14 is configured by a three-axis acceleration sensor141 and a three-axis angular velocity sensor 142, for example.

The acceleration sensor 141 is able to statically know an angle thereofwith respect to the direction of gravity and thus to detect a tiltingangle and a rolling angle. However, the acceleration sensor 141 cannotdetect a panning angle.

Therefore, the angular velocity sensor 142 is used for obtaining a shiftangle. The angular velocity sensor 142 is also referred to as a gyrosensor and is able to detect an angular velocity during rotation as avoltage signal and calculate the angle by integrating the voltagesignal. Moreover, since the angular velocity sensor 142 is configured asa three-axis sensor, it can detect a panning angle, a tilting angle, anda rolling angle.

The driver 15 changes the optical axis of the shift lens 112 of theoptical system 11 under the control of the system controller 16.

The system controller 16 is a circuit for performing color correctionprocessing, combining processing of a plurality of images, automatedexposure control and auto white balance control etc, with respect tooutput signals from the AFE circuit 13.

The system controller 16 is configured to include an image signalprocessing section 161 and a microcomputer (μ-CON) 162 as a controller.

The image signal processing section 161 has a precise combiningprocessing unit which is configured to enable precise combining, withoutwrinkles, of a large number of images taken a plurality of times indifferent directions from a point.

As shown in FIG. 3, a precise combining processing unit 1611 includes afirst color correction functioning section 16111, a combiningfunctioning unit 16112, and a second color correction functioning unit16113.

The image signal processing section 161 combines a plurality of imagedimages together, the images being obtained while moving the cameraapparatus 10 to generate a panoramic image.

The microcomputer 162 controls the optical axis of the lens (shift lens)that focuses an image so as to negate the moving direction of the cameraand the angular velocity in accordance with the detection results of theposition sensor 14.

When a CMOS image sensor is used as the solid-state imaging device, themicrocomputer 162 controls the driver 15 to perform the above-mentionedoptical axis control during a period which corresponds to the sum of anexposure period and a readout period of a partial line of the CMOS imagesensor and to return the optical axis to the vicinity of the centerduring periods other than the corresponding period. The shootingdirection of the camera at that time is perpendicular to the line of theCMOS image sensor.

The microcomputer 162 segments a portion of the CMOS image sensor into astrip shape and perform the optical axis control with respect to thestrip-shaped portions, so that a panoramic image is generated at a highframe rate without reducing the resolution even when the camera is movedat a high speed.

The microcomputer 162 integrates the detection signal of the angularvelocity sensor 142 to calculate a rotation angle of the cameraapparatus 10 and controls the amount of change in the optical axis ofthe shift lens 112 in accordance with the calculated rotation angle.

Alternatively, the image signal processing section 161 may detect themotion component of adjacent imaged images, and the microcomputer 162may control the amount of change in the optical axis in accordance withthe detected motion component.

Alternatively, the microcomputer 162 may control the amount of change inthe optical axis based on the calculated rotation angle and the motioncomponent.

The microcomputer 162 records the position information in the memory 17,regarding the shooting direction in which the respective imaged imagesare imaged.

The image signal processing section 161 and the microcomputer 162calculate the relative positional relationship of the respective imagesusing an overlapping region of the images with the aid of an imagerecognition function such as block matching and calculate the positionalrelationship of the images based on various position sensor data.

Then, the microcomputer 162 calculates more precise relative positionalrelationship of the image via selective collaboration of the calculatedrelative positional relationship and the positional relationship of theimages.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 162 specifies the absolute positionalrelationship of the respective images, related to orientations of thecenters of the respective images, such as, for example, a panning angle(longitude), a tilting angle (altitude), and a rolling angle(inclination) around the optical axis.

The image signal processing section 161 performs precise automatedcombining using them as initial values.

The microcomputer 162 calculates information, e.g., a pixel view angleof an image, a static-state value of a position sensor, and acorresponding pixel view angle of the position sensor value, which isindefinite on its own. The microcomputer 162 has parameters, e.g.,offsets and gains and is thus able to make the information substantiallyidentical to the actual direction by changing the parameters.

The microcomputer 162 statically detects static-state position data byan angle of a three-axis (or two-axis) acceleration sensor with respectto the direction of gravity and uses the position data as the initialvalues of position information.

The microcomputer 162 mainly calculates rotational movement in thevertical and horizontal directions of the camera by the time-integrationvalues of a three-axis angular velocity sensor 142, for example, anduses the rotational movement as the direction data at the time when therespective images are imaged.

The microcomputer 162 calculates relative positional relationship of theimages using an overlapping region of the images with the aid of animage recognition function such as block matching and also makes adetermination as to whether or not the calculation results are correctsimultaneously when calculating the positional relationship of theimages.

When the calculation results are correct, the microcomputer 162 correctsthe parameters based on, this information of the positionalrelationship.

When the calculation results are not correct, the microcomputer 162arranges the images using the position sensor values obtained based onparameters which have already been corrected.

The microcomputer 162 outputs a warning signal by displaying anindication and/or outputting a warning sound by means of the displayunit 18 and/or the speaker unit 20 to prompt users to reshoot upondetecting an influence of a moving object.

In regard to detection of the moving object, the microcomputer 162ensures any portion of an object will appear in at least two pieces ofimages with an overlapping ratio of 50% or more to detect the influenceof parallax or the object with the aid of the similarity matching of amotion vector between adjacent images.

That is to say, the microcomputer 162 outputs a warning signal to promptusers to reshoot upon detecting the object or the influence of parallax.

The microcomputer 162 detects how much the influence of parallax anobject in a close range is receiving to prompt users to reshoot theobject around the viewpoint of the camera based on the detectionresults.

The microcomputer 162 prompts users to reshoot by informing the users ofan appropriate value of the sweeping angular velocity (the speed atwhich the user sweeps the camera) and outputting a warning signal bydisplaying an indication and/or outputting a warning sound by means ofthe display unit 18 and/or the speaker unit 20 if the sweeping is toofast.

The microcomputer 162 graphically displays time and output (sweepingangular velocity) of a position sensor (gyro sensor), respectively, onthe horizontal and vertical axes of a screen of the display unit 18,e.g., an LCD. Since the maximum sweeping angular velocity is determinedwhen a horizontal angle of view, a horizontal pixel number, and ashutter speed are set, 60 to 80% of the maximum sweeping angularvelocity is displayed on the graph as an appropriate range RNG, as shownin FIG. 4.

An overview of the operation procedures is as follows.

[1] The camera is swept with the pressed start button of the operationunit 19 and then the start button is released.[2] sweeping angular velocity during the pressed state of the startbutton is displayed on the screen of the display unit 18 as illustratedin FIG. 4.[3] The warning signal is not output when the sweeping angular velocityis lower than the appropriate range RNG, but will be output when thesweeping angular velocity is higher than the appropriate range.

Hereinafter, the above-described first to fifth configurations will bedescribed in detail.

The controls in the first to fifth configurations are mainly performedby the system controller 16.

[First Configuration]

In the first configuration, since the CMOS image sensor is used as thesolid-state imaging device, there are no such concepts as frames/fields,and a progressive method is employed in which all lines are sequentiallyread out.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining an imaging mode according tothe first configuration of the present embodiment.

As a method of moving the camera apparatus 10, it is assumed that thecamera is basically swept in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 5Aor in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 5B. That is to say, thecamera is moved in a direction perpendicular to the readout line of theCMOS image sensor.

As depicted by a dark strip-shaped portion 30 in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in thepresent embodiment, the microcomputer 162 performs the optical axiscontrol with respect to a strip-shaped portion which is segmented fromthe central portion of the imaging range of the CMOS image sensor.

Such a strip imaging gives the following advantages.

(a) The narrower strip gives more advantageous influence on theparallax.(b) The narrower strip gives more advantageous influence on theasynchronous readout of the CMOS image sensor.(c) The narrower strip gives more advantageous influence on the ambientlight reduction.(d) The narrower strip gives more advantageous influence on the lensdistortion.

The microcomputer 162 controls the optical axis of the lens (shift lens)that focuses an image so as to negate the moving direction of the cameraand the angular velocity in accordance with the detection results of theposition sensor 14.

When a CMOS image sensor is used as the solid-state imaging device, themicrocomputer 162 controls the driver 15 to perform the above-mentionedoptical axis control during a period which corresponds to the sum of anexposure period and a readout period of a partial line of the CMOS imagesensor and to return the optical axis to the vicinity of the centerduring periods other than the corresponding period.

That is to say, the optical axis control needs to be performed during aperiod when the strip-shaped portion 30 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B isbeing exposed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between an exposure periodof a CMOS image sensor, a readout period of stored charges, and anoptical axis control period.

Charges are readout of respective lines of the CMOS image sensorsubsequently to exposure, and exposure, and the charge readout andexposure are performed with respect to the subsequent line after thecharge readout of a certain line is completed. The optical axis controlis performed during a period when this operation is repeatedly performedso that the charge readout process is performed for all the strip-shapedportions.

For example, when a CMOS image sensor of which the readout period perone line is 7.8 μsec/line is used, a shutter speed is 1/1000 sec(namely, the exposure period is 1 msec), and the strip width is 200lines, the total readout period becomes 1.56 msec and the optical axiscontrol period becomes 2.56 msec in FIG. 6. This corresponds to thecondition [3] in FIGS. 22A to 22D in which the blurring pixel count orthe frame rate is calculated when various parameters are given. Inaddition, when the frame rate of an imaging is 60 fps (about 16.66 msecper one image), by applying the corresponding numeric values in FIG. 3of Patent Document 1, Son becomes 2.56 msec and Soff becomes 14.1 msec(=16.66−2.56).

Although an allowable limit angle of the optical axis control was in therange of ±1.2 degrees in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1,the allowable limit angle is variable within the range of ±0.5 degreesand a value in the range of 0 to 0.3 degrees is used. This correspondsto about 60% of the maximum variable range.

The strip-shaped images obtained by imaging in such a manner arecombined together by the precise combining processing unit 1611 in FIG.3, whereby a panoramic image is generated. Hereinafter, an imagecombining process of the precise combining processing unit 1611 will bedescribed.

Thus, the system controller 16 according to the present embodiment has afunction (e.g., software) by which the images taken a plurality of timesindifferent directions from a point can be precisely combined into apiece of image by correcting color non-uniformity.

The characteristic functions of the precise combining of the presentembodiment will be described in detail below.

The first color correction functioning unit 16111 performs at leastthree blocks matching (BM) processes for each boundary when extracting aparameter such as a lens distortion correction coefficient, and performscombining with respect to boundaries in at least four pieces, therebydetermining the lens distortion correction coefficient to permit precisecombining.

In other words, the first color correction functioning unit 16111extracts a parameter such as a lens distortion correction coefficientfrom an original image.

Subsequently, the first color correction functioning section 16111uniformly performs ambient light reduction correction, contrastenhancement, saturation enhancement and gamma correction with respect toall partial images.

After the first color correction functioning unit 16111 determines theparameter such as the lens distortion correction coefficient andperforms ambient light reduction correction, contrast enhancement,saturation enhancement and gamma correction, the combining functioningunit 16112 performs BM at least one (e.g., three) for each of allboundaries.

Then, the combining functioning unit 16112 performs precise combining ofa plurality of images by simultaneously evaluating the results of the BMfor all the boundaries, and updating the optical axis direction so as toreduce the errors in all the boundaries.

The second color correction functioning section 16113 performs color(color non-uniformity) correction, which is performed independently foreach partial image in order to reduce the color difference betweenadjacent images in the plurality of images precisely combined by thecombining functioning unit 16112.

The second color correction functioning section 16113 also performscolor correction for reducing the color discontinuity between adjacentimages to be below a detection limit.

The theoretical concept of the precise combining process in the precisecombining processing unit 1611 will be described below.

The present embodiment basically employs a phase correlation techniquebased on Fourier analysis.

That is, the employed technique is based on Fourier shift theorem thatthe shift of a spatial function is changed only in the phase of aspectrum region.

Specifically, two functions f₁ and f₂ should satisfy the followingrelationship.

f ₂(x,y)=f ₁(x+x _(t) ,y+y _(t))  [Equation 1]

Further there is the following spectrum characteristic.

F ₂(u,v)=F ₁(u,v)exp(−2πi(ux _(t) +vy _(t)))  [Equation 2]

The above equation can be equivalently written by using cross-powerspectrum (CPS), as follows.

$\begin{matrix}{{\frac{{F_{1}\left( {u,v} \right)}{F_{2}^{*}\left( {u,v} \right)}}{\underset{\underset{{Cross}\text{-}{power}\mspace{14mu} {spectrum}}{}}{{{F_{1}\left( {u,v} \right)}{F_{2}^{*}\left( {u,v} \right)}}}} = {\exp \left( {2{{\pi }\left( {{ux}_{t} + {vy}_{t}} \right)}} \right)}},} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

In the equation, F₂* is a conjugate function of a complex function F₂.

In fact, an image is bit noise such as cross-power spectrum of twoimages, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

It is therefore desirable to seek a peak of the CPS and derive atranslation parameter (x_(t), y_(t)) from the peak.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing stitching images in the translationusing the cross-power spectrum (CPS).

FIG. 7A shows the result of the stitching of two images. Atwo-dimensional translation can be obtained by detecting the peak of theCPS, as shown in FIG. 7B. Here, if the CPS is readable, the images arecompletely matched.

Since it is difficult to detect a maximum peak in an image with muchnoise, some peaks may be selected.

Next, the principle of extraction of a parameter by using block matching(BM) process will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 14.

The BM includes the function of deriving the peak of the above-mentionedcross-power spectrum (CPS).

Referring now to FIG. 8, four images IM0, IM1, IM2 and IM3 of goodcondition are selected.

Assuming, for example, that the image arranged at the lower left corneris the zero-th image IM0, its right-hand one is the first image IM1, theupper left one is the second image IM2, and its right-hand one is thethird image IM3. These images IM0 to IM3 are arranged to include anoverlapping portion in the boundary between the adjacent images.

In FIG. 8, rectangles arranged in the boundary regions are blocks BLK.

Thus, the BM is performed under the above-mentioned condition ofarrangement.

Then information of lens distortion, angles of view, and tilting anglesare obtained from four boundaries BDR01, BDR02, BDR13 and BDR23 in thelower, left, right and upper regions, respectively.

The BM (block matching) will further be described.

The BM is performed with respect to three positions in a boundary, asshown in FIG. 9.

The presence of lens distortion leads to arched results of the BM, asshown in FIG. 10.

Any improper tilting angle causes a lateral tilting error in the resultof the BM, as shown in FIG. 11.

When the center of lens distortion is deviated vertically, lateralexpansion and contraction occur in the upper and lower boundaries, asshown in FIG. 12. The vertical expansion and contraction in the rightand left boundaries result from a lateral deviation of the center oflens distortion.

When the image is rotated as it goes upward, a vertical tilting erroroccurs as shown in FIG. 13. That is, FIG. 13 shows the result when thecamera is not oriented to the front with respect to a mechanical tiltingaxis.

Various parameters are determined to minimize these errors.

This enables the errors to be reduced even if any four pieces areconnected together.

For example, fast phase correlation matching is applied to perform thecorresponding BM in the image. The respective parameters can bequantified by obtaining a vector shift (x_(ij), y_(ij)), and thenanalyzing the behavior of shifts of the three blocks.

After performing the BM of the above-mentioned four pieces, as shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B, the BM is expanded to a large number of pieces, andsimultaneously the results of the BM are evaluated with respect to allthe boundaries. The precise combining of the plurality of images isexecuted by updating the optical axis direction so as to reduce theerrors in all the boundaries.

In this case, a piece of reference image is determined, and other imagesare parallel-translated so as to converge at such positions as tominimize the errors.

The precise combining processing is basically performed according to thefollowing processing, which is itemized as below.

An optimum position is found for shift by translations.

In this case, the loop is rotated.

A parameter fxy indicating the total of shift amounts is set to 0.0.

All the upper, lower, right and left (vertical and lateral) images areprocessed.

The reference image remains unmoved.

The positional relationship with the adjacent images is found from theresults of the BM. Based on this, a shift amount is calculated.

The method thereof is as follows. The image directly above and its rightneighbor are added, and the image directly below and its left neighborare subtracted to obtain an average, which is expressed as f[y][x]·x,f[y][x]·y.

An 80% thereof is added to the central position of the present image andis regarded as the central position of a new image.

The total of the absolute values of the shift amounts of all the imagesis entered into the fxy.

Calculation is made to confirm how the above-mentioned shift improvesthe vertical and lateral positional relationships.

The fxy has the property (nature) that it becomes small by repeating theabove-mentioned shift.

In other words, the fxy is converged to the state where no more shiftcan be performed.

The processing is terminated when the fxy is sufficiently small.

A description will be made of an exemplary embodiment of the specificprocessing of image combining free from wrinkles even when connectingseveral thousands of pieces.

It is considered now the case of four pieces of images.

As shown in FIG. 8, it is assumed that the image on the lower leftcorner is the zero-th image IM0, its right neighbor is the first imageIM1, the upper left one is the second image IM2, and its right neighboris the third image IM3.

The zero-th image IM0 remains unmoved. That is, the zero-th image IM0 isused as a reference image.

The lateral components of the results of the BM are expressed as bx1[0],bx1[1], bx2[0], and bx2[1].

The vertical components are also processed independently; however, forpurposes of description, only the processing of the lateral componentswill be described below.

The bx1 expresses right and left, and the bx2 expresses above and below.The figure 0 in “[ ]” means below or left.

When the right or upper image with respect to the reference image IM0 ispositioned right or above, the BM result is a positive value.

As an extreme example, assuming that there is only one abnormal value,and that bx1[0]=10, bx1[1]=0, bx2[0]=0, and bx2[1]=0.

Considering that there is a lateral 10-pixel deviation in the first row,and the other three boundaries have no deviation.

If the position of the first image IM1 is determined by the BM resultsof the zero-th image IM0 and the first image IM1, the position of thethird image IM3 is determined by the BM results of the first image IM1and the third image IM3. Moreover, the position of the second image IM2is determined by the BM results of the second image IM2 and the thirdimage IM3, a large value of 10 pixels may occur as wrinkles in thepositional relationship between the zero-th image IM0 and the secondimage IM2.

The system of the present embodiment indicates that the influence of anabnormal value “10” is dispersed by 2.5. This processing is executed inaccordance with a program, part of which will be described later.

An amount to be parallel-translated is found from the positionalrelationship with an adjacent image by xypos2 ( ).

For the first time, it is calculated that the first image IM1 should beshifted −5 pixels.

The first image is parallel-translated by move ( ).

The actual shift amount is 80% thereof, namely 4 pixels.

The shift amounts of the images IM1, IM2 and IM3 other than the zero-thimage IM0 are pox[1]=4, pox[2]=0, and pox [3]=0, respectively.

From this, the BM result bx1[0] is changed from 10 to 6.

Consequently, bx2[1] is changed from 0 to 4.

For the second time, it is calculated that the first image IM1 should beshifted −1 pixel.

It is calculated that the third image IM3 should be shifted −2 pixels.

When a 80% thereof, namely 0.8 is added, pox [1]=4.8.

Subsequently, a similar calculation is continued from the third time tothe 32nd time. For the 32nd time, the total of the shift amounts fxy isbelow 0.001 pixels, and the processing is terminated.

At this time, the number of pixels to be parallel-translated is 7.5,2.5, and 5.0. The positional relationships of the respective images arechanged as follows. That is, bx1[0]=10 is changed to bx1[0]=2.5,bx1[1]=0 is changed to bx2[1]=−2.5, bx2[0]=0 is changed to bx2[0]=−2.5,and bx2[1]=0 is changed to bx2[1]=2.5. It can be seen that the errorsare dispersed.

List below are the number of times and the values thereof when ii=32,fxy=0.00083, namely fxy is not more than 0.001.

n ix fx [n] fy [n] 0 0   0.000000 0.000000 1 2 −0.000244 0.000000 2 2−0.000244 0.000000 3 2 −0.000344 0.000000 Number of pixels to n pox [n]poy [n] fz [n] be parallel-translated 0 0.00 0.00 1 7.50 0.00 2 2.500.00 3 5.00 0.00

The following are part of an example of the program.

---- the part of the program (from here) -----------------  clrpos( );// Enter 0 in an amount to be parallel- translated [pixel] pox[ ], fzx[], and rolla[ ].  for (ii=0;ii<1000;ii++){        xypos2( ); // Find anamount to be parallel- translated from the positional relationship withan adjacent image.        if (fxy<0.001){break;}        move( ); //Parallel-translation.  } fprintf(inf,”ii=1230484, fxy=0.00000 the numberof times and the value thereof when fxy is not more than 0.001\n”,ii,fxy);  xypos( );   // Find a parallel-translation amount from thepositional relationship with an adjacent image.  move( );   //Parallel-translation.  dsppos( );   // Display a correction amount. angle( );   // Convert the correction amount to an angle, and updateqq[n], pp[n].  dsppos( );   // Display the correction amount.  dsperr();   // Display those having a value exceeding 1 in the error between apair of small images.  step( ); //Create a step angle from qq[n], pp[n]-- the part of the program (till here)------------------

The following are a main subroutine.

--Main subroutine---------------------------- void xypos2( ){ // Findparallel-translation amounts fx[n], fy[n] from the positionalrelationship with the adjacent image, // Find a flag fz[n] that cannotbe parallel-translated. (Delete fprintf)  int m, n, m2, n2, h, v, ix; double cx, cy;  //fprintf(inf, ”n ix fx[n] fy[n] \n”);  fxy=0;  for(v=0;v<ny;v++){ // about all images    for (h=0;h<nx;h++){    m=(nx−1)*v+h; // right and left boundaries    n=nx*v+h; // upper and lowerboundaries    ix=0;    if((0<skip[h][v])||((v==(ny−1)/2)&&(h==(nx−1)/2))){// The central imageand determined flag image remain unmoved.        fx[n]=0;fy[n]=0;fz[n]=4;  //fz[n] is a flag that cannot beparallel-translated  if (skip[h][v]==2){fz[n]=2;} // Determined flagimage is 2.  }else{     cx=0;cy=0;     if (v!=0){ // when not thelowermost row     n2=n−nx; // directly below     if (0<fok2[n2]){    ix++;     cx−=bx2[n2]; // subtract that directly below    cy−=by2[n2];         }     }  if (v!=ny−1){ // when not the top row    if (0<fok2[n]){        ix++;        cx+=bx2[n]; //add its own           cy+=by2[n2];            }     }     if (h!=0){ // when notthe leftmost end        m2=m−1; // left neighbor        if (0<fok1[m2]){       ix++;        cx−=bx1[m2]; // Subtract left neighbor       cy−=by1[m2];        }     }     if (h!=nx−1){ // when not therightmost end        if (0<fok1[m]){            ix++;           cx+=bx1[m];  // add its own            cy+=by1[m];        }    }     if (ix==0){        fx[n]=0;fy[n]=0;fz[n]=1;     }else{       fx[n]=cx/ix;        fy[n]=cy/ix;        fz[n]=0;     }    fxy+=fabs(fx[n])+fabs(fy[n]);     }  }  } }//************************************** void move( ){     //Parallel-translation.  int m,n,h,v;  for (v=0;v<ny;v++){ // centralposition of image (pixel)     for (h=0;h<nx;h++){        n=nx*v+h;       if (fz[n]==0){   // when not isolated from surroundings           pox[n]+=−fx[n] * 0.8;            poy[n]+=−fy[n] * 0.8;     }  } } for (v=0;v<ny;v++){ // Lateral positional relationship     for(h=0;h<nx−1;h++){        m=nx*v+h;        n=(nx−1)*v+h;       bx1[n]+=−(fx[m]−fx[m+1]) * 0.8;        by1[n]+=−(fy[m]−fy[m+1]) *0.8;     } } for (v=0;v<ny−1;v++){ // Vertical positional relationship    for (h=0;h<nx;h++){        n=nx*v+h;       bx2[n]+=−(fx[n]−fx[n+nx])*0.8;       by2[n]+=−(fy[n]−fy[n+nx])*0.8;     }   } }//***********************************************

As described above, according to the first configuration of the presentembodiment, even when a digital camera mounting thereon the CMOS imagesensor is used, it is possible to image images at a high frame ratewithout reducing the resolution, thereby reducing the influence of theparallax, the ambient light reduction, and the lens distortion.Moreover, it is possible to create a high-quality panoramic image.

This enables the precise combining and also suppresses the occurrence ofcolor non-uniformity, irrespective of the number of images to becombined.

The lens distortion correction coefficient can be extracted fromactually imaged images. This eliminates the necessity of complicatedcalibration operation, remarkably improving precision.

With the method causing no wrinkles even when connecting severalthousands of pieces, the necessary range can be taken at the necessaryresolution, without paying attention to the number of shots.

Next, the second configuration will be described.

[Second Configuration]

Recording of spatial positions of continuously imaged images will bedescribed.

<Overview>

A panoramic photography based on continuous imaged images is anoperation of dividing a space to combine the images into apiece ofimage. When a panoramic image is created from the images, ahigh-precision panoramic image can be obtained by performing reversecomputation using the spatial information at the time of imaging.

In the present embodiment, the information on an imaging space in whichimaging is performed is calculated from sensors and images at the timeof imaging the images, and the information is assigned to each piece ofthe images, so that the information can be used for generation of thepanoramic image.

<Assigning Information on Imaging Space>

For example, when performing a panoramic photography, a lens is drivenby a motor with a viewpoint fixed at one point and the shootingdirection is changed.

In the images imaged under this condition, the position of the cameraapparatus 10, namely the focal position is fixed and only the shootingdirections are different. Therefore, in this example, the descriptionwill be limited to a case where the images are images that are obtainedby imaging the surroundings of an object with a fixed angle of view froma certain point.

In such an imaging method, there will be two kinds of information on theimaging space, as follows.

That is, one of them is information (viewpoint vector) on the point theimaging is targeting, and the other is information on a rotation angle(rolling angle) around the viewpoint vector.

<Definition of Projection Sphere and Space>

An image of a space is projected onto a piece of plane.

In order to handle all orientations when a panoramic image of a space isimaged, it will be helpful to assume that there is a sphere around aphotographer and the panoramic image is projected onto the sphere fromthe perspective of easy image processing. When the viewpoint vector isdefined by using the sphere, the coordinate space is also determined.

The projection sphere having a radius of 1 is defined with the origin(0, 0, 0) used as the focal position at which the camera apparatus 10 islocated.

Assuming the front direction in the horizontal state be defined as acoordinate f (0, 0, 1) which is located at a distance of 1 on the Zaxis, the viewpoint vector can be expressed as a vector oriented fromthe origin (0, 0, 0) toward the point f(0, 0, 1).

The viewpoint vector becomes a unit vector having a length of 1, and thelength will be 1 in any orientation.

Since the frame's rolling information cannot be recorded only with theviewpoint vector v1, another rolling vector v2 has to be recorded. Thisis information representing the upward direction of an image, and asubtraction of these vectors, v2−v1, becomes a vector representing theupward direction of the image.

This enables to express the shooting direction of images with twovectors (two points on the projection sphere) and to locate any point inall orientations without producing any density difference.

<Relative Shift and Absolute Coordinates>

The information on the imaging space includes two kinds of information,namely relative information and absolute information.

From the viewpoint of creating a panoramic image, although it is good tohave absolute position information regarding the orientation in whichthe image is imaged, since it is difficult to obtain accurate absoluteinformation, the position information is integrated from relativeinformation or corrected using rough absolute information.

In a lens-driving panoramic camera, although the scenario of moving thelens is absolute information, since relative information such as shakingat the time of imaging, incorporation of errors at the time of drivingthe lens, variation in the precision of a position sensor is addedthereto, the precise absolute value is obtained through calculation.<Space Expansion of Relative Shift>

Now, it will be assumed that accurate relative information is obtainedwith the aid of image recognition and a position sensor.

When the present image frame f1 is shifted by (dx, dy) in position fromthe previous image frame f2 and the frame is rolled by an amount of rz,the amounts of rotation around the x and y axes can be calculated as rxand ry from the angle of view. At this time, the viewpoint vector v1 ofthe frame f1 becomes the result of rotating the viewpoint vector v2 ofthe frame f2 by an amount of (rx, ry, rz).

Although the absolute position on the projection sphere can becalculated based on the information, the calculation of calculating theabsolute position by rotating by the amount of (rx, ry, rz) from theposition of the vector v2 is a little complex.

Therefore, the latest image f1 is fixed at the front plane vector v1 (0,0, 1), and images arranged on the projection sphere, including and laterthan the previous image f2 are rotated by the amount of (−rx, −ry, −rz)for each sphere. That is, other images are shifted relative with thelatest image f1.

By repeating this operation, the position of the last image will be onthe coordinates (0, 0, 1), and the absolute coordinates of all theremaining images will be obtained.

The reason why the rolling information is expressed by two vectors ofthe viewpoint vector and the rolling vector is because it is easy toperform the relative rotation (rotating the sphere itself).

<Deviation Between Relative Shift Integration Value and AbsoluteInformation>

Although only the relative information was used for spatial arrangementof the images, it is in fact possible to obtain absolute informationsuch as rolling information or vertical inclination from the positionsensor 14 or the like. However, the absolute information obtainable fromthe position sensor 14 is rough compared to the precision necessary forgenerating the panoramic image and it is thus difficult to use thevalues as they are.

On the other hand, although the relative information has high precisionbecause it is obtained through image recognition, errors areincorporated therein. When the relative information is integrated, asmall error may appear and cause a large error due to the integrationerrors.

Therefore, the absolute information obtained form the position sensor 14is used for confirming whether or not the integration errors haveoccurred.

The relative information is compared with the absolute values of theposition sensor at certain intervals during the space expansionprocessing of the relative shift. If the relative shift is too far fromthe absolute values of the position sensor, the relative shift iscorrected using the absolute values of the position sensor. Moreover,the shift amounts are relatively integrated from that position.

FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing the method for spatialarrangement based on continuously imaged images and sensor information.

In FIG. 15, a functional block 41 sets a zero reference value withrespect to the detection signal of the angular velocity sensor 142, anda shift amount integration section 42 integrates the shift amounts.

Moreover, a detection section 43 compares inter-frame images imagedthrough the imaging device 12 with each other and detects the shiftamounts.

A collaborative correction logic 44 performs collaborative correctionbased on the outputs of the shift amount integration section 42 and thedetection section 43, and a relative position integration section 45integrates the relative positions to obtain absolute positioninformation.

Moreover, based on the detection results of the acceleration sensor 141,an absolute position correction section 46 corrects the absoluteposition information, and an arrangement section 47 determines spatialpositions of frames and arranges the frames.

<Spatial Coordinate Information and Panoramic Image>

The above-mentioned calculation is performed in the course of imaging,and spatial coordinate information, namely the shooting direction isrecorded simultaneously as metadata.

Although the panoramic image can be generated with only the metadata,the spatial coordinate information may be used as basic data whenperforming precise adjustment and authoring in the post processing.

Since there has not been the metadata representing the shootingdirection in a space, it was not possible to obtain more precisepanoramic images. However, in the present embodiment, coordinateinformation is assigned at the time of imaging in order to solve thisproblem.

As described above, in the second configuration, continuously imagedimages are spatially arranged using the frame shift information obtainedvia a technique of image recognition and the shift information obtainedfrom the position sensor. Portions of which the information is notobtainable through this image recognition are replaced with positionsensor information, and the position sensor information is used asauxiliary coordinates for confirmation of the success in the imagerecognition or to be used when the image recognition has failed. Theimages that are spatially arranged are combined into one panoramicimage.

This method enables to express correctly not only the image at thevicinity of the front but also the images directly above and directlybelow and to comply with imaging in all orientations or of the celestialsphere.

It is possible to render a wider scene at the vicinity of the frontwithout errors.

Needless to say, it is possible to comply with hand-held imaging and toobtain high-precision images.

Next, the third configuration will be described.

[Third Configuration]

Correction of position recognition based on continuously imaged imageswill be described.

<Overview>

In order to give shooting position information to continuously imagedimages, the present configuration uses a so-called dynamic calibration,which is a method incorporating the position sensor and the imagerecognition.

<Continuous Imaging and Shooting position Information>

When a panoramic image is combined using continuously imaged images,there is a case where high-frequency components are not contained in theimage and it is unable to specify the continuity from the image.

In such a scene, it is unable to obtain information regarding how muchthe consecutive frames are shifted, making it unable to generate thewhole panoramic image.

To enable obtaining the position information from such a scene, theshift information and the position information are recorded togetherwith the images at the time of imaging with the aid of the positionsensor 14.

<Use of Position Sensor>

The position sensor 14 uses the three-axis acceleration sensor 141 andthe three-axis angular velocity sensor 142 in a simultaneous andparallel manner.

The angular velocity sensor 142 detects the rotational velocity of thecamera, and the acceleration sensor 141 detects a horizontalacceleration.

Although the shift information is obtained from the imaged images as faras possible, in the case of a scene in which image recognition cannot beperformed due to the condition of the image, the shift amount from theprevious frame is obtained from the position sensor 14.

By comparing the overall amount of change in the detection results ofthe position sensor 14 with the shift amounts obtained via the imagerecognition, more precise position information can be obtained.

<Problem in Using Position Sensor>

However, depending on the intended panoramic photography, the precisionof an image is higher than the precision of the position sensor 14.Therefore, when only the information of the position sensor 14 is usedas the position information, the information becomes too imprecise forit to be used in creating a panoramic image.

Therefore, the position sensor information is used as auxiliaryinformation when it is really difficult to obtain the positioninformation but high precision is not expected.

Like general physical sensors, the output of the position sensor is alsofluctuating without maintaining a stable output.

Moreover, the zero position at the static state changes depending on thesituation, it is necessary to measure the value at the zero position byestablishing a static condition before imaging. After measuring thevalue, the shift amount is measured by a deviation from the zero-pointvalue.

<Image Recognition and Correction Thereof>

In the present configuration, the position sensor information isrecorded as metadata while continuously imaging panoramic images.

In this method, since the output fluctuation of the position sensor 14is too large, there is a problem in that the metadata information isdifficult to use at the time of combining into a panoramic image.

Therefore, the metadata obtained by the image recognition is correctedand recorded at the time of imaging.

When the metadata is recorded, space information regarding theorientation of the camera is held therein and updated; however, theprecision of the metadata values deteriorates due to various reasons.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the space information held thereinis corrected and updated in real-time based on the information from theimage recognition and the position sensor; this process is dynamiccalibration.

When consecutive panoramic images are imaged, two cases can beconsidered: one case is where there is already a moving scenario thatthe camera will be moved by the driving of a motor, and the other caseis where there is not moving scenario because the camera is swept by thehands.

In the case where there is the moving scenario caused by the driving ofa motor, although the rough shooting position can be detected inadvance, it is difficult to consider a shaking or a shift during theimaging. The position sensor 14 is used for detecting such changesduring imaging.

When the changes during the shooting are detected by the position sensor14, a close examination is made as to the deviation of the detectionresults from the actual moving scenario by the image recognition. Theimage recognition can be made easy when the shift amount of the positionsensor 14 is used as the basis of the close examination.

When it is possible to calculate a deviation from an expected movingscenario, the deviation is added to the values of the moving scenarioand information on the actual shooting position is recorded as themetadata of the imaged image.

Since the moving scenario is not available when the camera is swept bythe hand, the shift amount is calculated by the image recognition thatcompares the present frame with the previous frame whenever the framesare imaged.

In this case, since it is difficult to know the shift amount, a roughshift amount is obtained from the information of the position sensor 14,and the image recognition is performed based on the shift amount,whereby it is possible to calculate the shift amount with highprecision.

If it is difficult to perform the image recognition, the shift amountobtained from the position sensor is recorded and is later collated withthe positional relationship of the previous and subsequent frames,whereby the coordinates are determined.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing the method for achievinghigh precision by correlating the continuously imaged images and thesensor information, specifically showing the zero correction of thestatic-state sensor values.

In FIG. 16, a detection section 51 compares inter-frame images imagedthrough the imaging device 12 with each other and detects the shiftamounts.

A static-state detection section 52 performs static-state detection onthe basis of the detection signal of the angular velocity sensor 142,the detection signal of the acceleration sensor 141, and the detectionsignal of the detection section 51, thereby obtaining a reference valueof the angular velocity sensor at the static state.

Then, a recording section 53 determines the reference value and recordsthe reference value in the memory 17.

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing a method for achievinghigh precision by correlating the continuously imaged images and thesensor information, specifically showing the method for achieving highprecision via collaboration of shift information.

In FIG. 17, a functional block 54 sets a zero reference value withrespect to the detection signal of the angular velocity sensor 142, anda shift amount integration section 55 integrates the shift amounts.

Moreover, a detection section 51 compares inter-frame images imagedthrough the imaging device 12 with each other and detects the shiftamounts.

A collaborative correction logic 56 performs collaborative correctionbased on the outputs of the shift amount integration section 55 and thedetection section 51 to obtain high-precision relative shiftinformation.

As described above, in the third configuration, when recordingcontinuously imaged images, frame shift information obtained via animage recognition technique is correlated with shift informationobtained from a position sensor. Moreover, information, e.g., a pixelview angle of an image, a static-state value of a position sensor, and acorresponding pixel view angle of the position sensor value, which isindefinite on its own, is calculated.

Therefore, by a technique that collaborates a method of obtaining theshift information via the image recognition and a method of detectingthe shift information from the position sensor, the method which cannotprovide desirable precision on its own, it is possible to remarkablyimprove precision and stability.

The above-described second and third configurations will further bedescribed in relation to FIGS. 18 to 21.

<Imaged Image and Rotational Movement of Photographer>

When the shooting position changes at the time of imaging a panoramicimage, a discontinuity may occur due to parallax.

The discontinuity due to parallax cannot be corrected by imageprocessing after the imaging.

Therefore, when a panoramic image is imaged, the photographer and thecamera are fixed at a certain position, and the photographer takesimages while rotating at that place so that the camera is focusing onone point.

In this case, the moving distance of a viewpoint as seen from twodifferent imaged images is proportional to the amount of rotation duringthe shooting. If the image is a digital image and the size thereof canbe expressed by a pixel count, the pixels shifted between the two piecesof images can be calculated back from the distance of the rotationalmovement during the shooting; in this case, an angle of view is used asa parameter necessary for the back calculation.

The angle of view is a numeric value representing the horizontal orvertical width of a scene imaged in an image in terms of a range ofangles in a shooting space.

The angle of view is a parameter which is given by measurements beforeshooting and does not change during the shooting.

When a horizontal angle of view is 30 degrees and a horizontal pixelcount of the imaged digital image is 1000, the shooting spatial angleper one pixel will be 0.03 degrees. That is, when it is recognized thatthe pixel shift amount between two pieces of images is 800 pixels, itcan be calculated that the actual rotation (sweeping) angle of thecamera is 24 degrees.

The angle of view per one pixel is used as the most important initialvalue.

Angle of view per one pixel=(Frame angle of view)/(Frame pixel count)

Rotation amount per two shots of images=(Pixel shift amount between twoimages)*(Angle of view per one pixel)

The actual angle of view per one pixel is held in advance as an initialvalue by measurements.

<Angular Velocity Sensor and Rotation Amount>

The angular velocity sensor outputs a present angular velocity.

Since the output value changes with time, the change in the angularvelocity can be detected; however, that value does not directlyrepresent the rotation amount. In order to obtain the rotation anglefrom the angular velocity sensor, it is necessary to define the unit ofintegration values.

Measurements are performed with the angular velocity sensor atpredetermined intervals of time, and the measurement interval is fixedas an important parameter.

The measured angular velocities are integrated in terms of time, and inthe meantime, the actual rotation amount needs to be obtained bymeasurements from the outside. The integrated angular velocity isdivided by the actual rotation amount to calculate an angular velocityintegration value per one degree.

Thereafter, the rotational shift amount can be proportionally calculatedby dividing the angular velocity integration value by the angularvelocity integration value per one degree.

The actual angular velocity integration value per one degree is held inadvance as an initial value by measurements.

<Dynamic Calibration>

Although the output of the angular velocity sensor is a relative angularvelocity, the output may change depending on the environment unless theangular velocity sensor is excellent. Since the change has an influenceon the actual measurements, every measurement of the output needs to becorrected.

A process which is specialized to panoramic photography to automaticallycorrect the output in accordance with the feedback information from theimaged panoramic image will be referred to as dynamic calibration.

The angular velocity sensor has two output values which change dependingon the environment; one is a static-state zero point position and theother is the angular velocity integration value per one degree. Anotheritem is the integration errors which accumulate with the relative shift;therefore, these three items are corrected.

<Angular Velocity Sensor and Zero Point Correction>

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a zero point correction process of the angularvelocity sensor.

In the zero point correction process of the angular velocity sensor 142,operations of steps ST1 to ST16 in FIG. 18 are performed.

It is not possible to detect the angular velocity if the accurate outputvalue in the static state of the angular velocity sensor 142 is notknown. Moreover, the zero point in this static state will changedepending on the environment such as temperature.

This zero point drift is corrected based on the results of imagematching, thereby calculating the accurate zero point at the time ofshooting. The initial value which is set in advance is used as the zeropoint output value of the angular velocity sensor 142 at the startingtime.

Image matching between two frames is performed (ST1 to ST3). If thematching results are reliable one that includes high-frequencycomponents and show that there is no shift in the X, Y, and Z-axisdirection, the output values of the X, Y, and Z-axis components of theangular velocity sensor are sampled as the zero point values.

At this time, correction is performed using the values sampled as thezero point values (ST4 to ST15).

When a shift was detected in any axis direction, since it is not thezero point, neither sampling nor the zero point correction is performed.

When the sampling is performed, the zero point values are correctedwhile incrementing the sample count.

The correction is performed by calculating an average value of theresults of calculation that divides the difference between the presentzero point value and the sampled value by the sample count.

Corrected zero point value=(Zero point value)+(Sampled value)·(Zeropoint value)·(Sample count)

<Shift Amount Correction of Angular Velocity Sensor>

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a shift amount correction process of theangular velocity sensor.

In the shift amount correction process of the angular velocity sensor,operations of steps ST21 to ST26 in FIG. 19 are performed.

The angular velocity integration value per one degree is a parameter forcalculating the rotation angle from the angular velocity integrationvalue of the angular velocity sensor, and this parameter will changedepending on the environment such as temperature.

Image matching is performed (ST21 to ST23) to correct and update theangular velocity integration value per one degree based on the matchingresults, thereby calculating the accurate value during the shooting(ST24 to ST26).

If the results of the image matching between two frames are reliable onethat includes high-frequency components, the angular velocityintegration value per one degree is calculated from the shift amounts inthe X, Y, and Z-axis direction, obtained through the image matching, andthe angular velocity integration value at that time.

Angular velocity integration value per one degree=(Angular velocityintegration value)/(Angle of view per one pixel)*(Pixel shift amountaround X axis)

Corrected angular velocity integration value per one degree=(Angularvelocity integration value per one degree)+(Sampled value)·(Angularvelocity integration value per one degree)/(Sample count)

<Angular Velocity Sensor Assisted by Acceleration Sensor>

The angular velocity sensor outputs a relative angular shift amount.

The absolute position information regarding the present position iscalculated by integrating the relative values obtained so far.

When the relative values contain a small deviation or noise, a largedeviation may occur as the integration time increases.

Although the angular velocity sensor is capable of obtaining theabsolute values of the Y-axis rotation (tilting) and the Z-axis rotation(rolling) by detecting the gravitational acceleration, the angularvelocity sensor is only able to detect a lumped value thereof in thecase of imaging panoramic images and is thus inferior to an accelerationsensor in terms of usability.

However, since the angular velocity sensor has a merit that it iscapable of outputting the absolute values, the integration value and theabsolute values can be corrected by periodically comparing them with theintegration value of a relative shift distance.

When the camera is moved by such an absolute amount as it can besufficiently detected by the acceleration sensor, the absolute amount iscorrected if necessary by comparing it with the absolute position whichis calculated based on the integration value of the relative shiftdistance at that time.

<Shift Information obtained from Images and Sensors>

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a shift amount acquisition method.

In the shift amount acquisition method, operations of steps ST31 to ST35in FIG. 20 are performed.

When the resolution of the angular velocity sensor 142 and theresolution of the shift amount obtained by the image matching arecompared, the image matching provides much higher precision values.Therefore, the shift amount calculated from the image matching is usedas the relative shift distance (ST33 and ST34) as far as possible.

Since matching is not achieved between images, such as images of the skyof the same color which do not contain high frequency components, inthis case, the relative shift amount is calculated by using the outputvalues of the angular velocity sensor 142 (ST33 and ST35).

<Method of Assigning Spatial Coordinates from Imaged Image>

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a method of assigning spatial coordinates froman imaged image.

In the method of assigning the spatial coordinates from the imagedimage, operations of steps ST41 to ST47 in FIG. 21 are performed.

With respect to all the panoramic images imaged in the described manner,relative rotational shift amounts from the previous frame, obtainedthrough image matching and the angular velocity sensor can be calculated(ST41 to ST43).

In order to create a panoramic image, it is necessary to assign absolutespatial coordinates to these relative rotational shift amounts.

Since the imaged images have the same angle of view, the coordinates maybe assigned with a focus on the central point of the imaged images,namely the orientation vector of the camera.

The relative rotational shift amount from the previous frame can beexpressed in terms of an angle of the orientation direction of thecamera, namely the shooting viewpoint vector, with respect to theviewpoint vector of the previous frame.

When the arrangement is simplified by only the viewpoint vector, it isdifficult to express the rotation around the Z-axis direction of theframe, namely rolling.

Therefore, the rolling of the frame will be expressed by another vectorwhich is displaced on the Y axis right above the frame.

These two vectors express the shooting direction of the camera and therolling around the Z axis, and the information of the frame iscontinuously held even after coordinates are rotated.

When the images are arranged in a space, a new frame will always belocated at a spatial front position a(0, 0, 1.0).

When the relative rotational shift amount is available, all the previousframes are rotated by that amount in the reverse direction, and then,the spatial front position a(0, 0, 1.0) is arranged (ST44 to ST46).

The relative rotational shift amounts are handled in such a manner thatthe amounts are calculated not by the difference from the previous frameto the present frame but by the difference from the present frame to theolder frames.

A presently imaged frame will be noted as A, and the previously imagedframe will be noted as B.

The relative rotational shift amount is calculated by the differencefrom the frame A to the frame B (ST43).

When the calculation results show that the camera is rotationallyshifted by rx, ry, and rz around the X, Y, and Z axis when calculatedfrom the camera position of the present frame A to the previous frame B,rotation of rx, ry, and rz is applied to the shooting direction vectorand the rolling index vector of all the older imaged frames other thanthe frame A.

The rotation matrix may be a typical three-dimensional space.

Rotation in the Z-axis direction

x2=x*cos(rx)−y*sin(rx)

y2=y*sin(rx)+z*cos(rx)

z2=z

Rotation in the Y-axis direction

x2=x*cos(ry)−z*sin(ry)

y2=y

z2=x*sin(ry)+z*cos(ry)

Rotation in the X-axis direction

x2=x

y2=y*cos(rz)−z*sin(rz)

z2=y*sin(rz)+z*cos(rz)

When the entire frames are rotated in such a manner so that a new frameis arranged at the fixed position, namely the front position, therelative rotational shift amounts can be transferred into the absolutespatial coordinates.

When all the frames are processed, the entire frames will haveappropriate absolute coordinates.

However, since the last frame is used as the reference point, there maybe a case where an arbitrary frame has to be relatively shifted to thereference point.

Next, the fourth configuration will be described.

[Fourth Configuration]

In the fourth configuration, when the influence of parallax or a movingobject is detected, a warning signal is output via the display unit 18or the speaker unit 20, thereby prompting users to reshoot.

In regard to detection of the moving object, in the fourthconfiguration, it is made sure that any portion of an object will appearin at least two pieces of images with an overlapping ratio of 50% ormore to detect the influence of parallax or the object with the aid ofthe similarity matching of a motion vector between adjacent images.

In the camera apparatus 10 that images a plurality of strip-shapedimages of a wide-range image with a single sweep and combines them intoa piece of image, it is detected how much influence of parallax anobject in a close range is receiving, and users are prompted to reshootthe object around the viewpoint of the camera based on the detectionresults.

Since a typical wide-angle camera has its viewpoint right after itslens, it is ideal for a user to hold the camera with the hands to rotatethe camera about the wrist of the user.

When images are imaged around the viewpoint of the camera, the imagescan be combined into one image even when an object in a close range iscontained in the images.

Since the camera apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment imagesa plurality of strip-shaped images, the camera apparatus 10 has anadvantage that even when images are imaged around a position slightlydisplaced from the viewpoint of the camera, an influence thereof is notlikely to appear.

However, when images are imaged with the camera held by the hands androtated about the shoulder, the camera will be rotated about a positionfar backward from the viewpoint of the camera, and thus, a resultingimage will be strongly influenced by parallax.

Although there is substantially no problem when the scene has allobjects located in the far range, if an object in the close range iscontained in the scene, the positional relationship with adjacent imagescannot be correctly combined unlike objects in the far range.

Therefore, in the fourth configuration, when it is detected that it isunable to correctly combine images due to the influence of parallax,users are prompted to reshoot by being instructed to rotate the cameraabout the viewpoint of the camera.

[Parallax Detection Method]

The parallax detection method will be described.

A block matching is performed a plurality of times within an overlappingrange of two pieces of images adjacent in time to calculate resultingmotion vectors.

Generally, if the camera is properly swept, the BM results will produceapproximately identical vectors.

When the camera is rotated about the shoulder and an object in the closerange is contained in the scene in the far range, the resulting vectorswill have different values.

Since changes in the image are severe at the boundaries of an object ina close range and an object in a far range, it is difficult to obtain acorrect BM result. The parallax is detected by this method.

A specific processing example of the parallax detection will bedescribed below.

The following processing is performed by the microcomputer 162 and theimage signal processing section 161 of the system controller 16 in acollaborative manner.

<Parallax Detection Method> [Rough Combining]

The camera apparatus 10 is rotated from left to right and several tenpieces of images corresponding to a range of about 120 degrees areimaged.

It is made sure that there is a sufficient region (overlapping region)in which a same object appears in adjacent images.

The motion of the camera apparatus 10 during the shooting is detected bythe position sensor 14 and recorded at very small intervals of time.

Since the sensor data are recorded in synchronism with the imagedimages, it is possible to know the shooting directions of respectiveimages; however the precision of the data is not high.

The respective images are arranged on a longitude-altitude plane basedon this information.

In this state, each of the overlapping regions of the adjacent imagescontains about 100 pixels and is arranged at an approximately correctposition.

From this point, the processing of a precise automated combining routineis performed.

[Precise Automated Combining]

A motion detection (ME; motion search or motion estimation) is performedin a plurality of areas within the overlapping region.

In the motion detection ME, a FFT-based phase-only correction method isused. Alternatively, a characteristic point extraction method or othermethod may be used.

In the case where there is only a translation, only one ME area willsuffice.

Two ME areas can give mutual inclination information.

Three ME areas can give a lens distortion coefficient.

The number of ME areas may be small if there is no moving object in theoverlapping region and the influence of hand shaking is not detected inthe background.

However, if the number of ME areas is too small, it is difficult to copewith such a case where a moving object is contained in the overlappingregion or the influence of parallax is detected in a close range.

Therefore, the ME is performed in as many areas as possible in theoverlapping region.

When many motion vectors obtained as the results of the ME havesubstantially the same values, the images can be combined by translatingone of the images relative with the others.

Although the motion vectors do not have substantially the same values,if the values change uniformly from the upper one to the lower one, theimages can be combined by inclining one of the images relative with theothers.

However, when different ME results are obtained from the overlappingregion, it is practically not possible to combine the images together.

This is because a moving object is present or because the images areimaged with the viewpoint shifted due to coexistence of objects in theclose and far ranges.

[Method of ME]

First, the ME is performed roughly by reducing the image subjected tothe ME.

The reduction ratio is gradually decreased, and finally, the ME isperformed with the image of the actual size.

The block size of the ME is changed or the center-to-center distance ofthe blocks is decreased so that more detailed motion vectors can beacquired.

[Evaluation of ME Result]

A determination is made based on many results of the ME as to whether ornot stitching can be performed correctly, and if determined not to bepossible, such a determination result is displayed to prompt users toreshoot.

If determined to be possible, the stitching is performed, and the resultof the combining is displayed and recorded in a recording medium(memory).

[Behavior of Moving Object]

Next, the behavior of a moving object will be described.

A block matching (BM) is performed a plurality of times within anoverlapping range of two pieces of images adjacent in time to calculateresulting motion vectors.

This vector corresponds to a moving direction and thus can be separatedfrom a stationary part.

Since changes in the image are severe at the boundaries of a movingobject and a stationary object, it is difficult to obtain a correct BMresult. When the camera is swept in the horizontal direction, it isdifficult to differentiate a case where parallax occurs due to presenceof a stationary object in a close range and a case where there is anobject moving in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, in such a case, a warning signal is output withoutdifferentiating the parallax and the moving object.

When the parallax or the moving object is detected in the images, it ispractically not possible for the existing technique to stitch the imageswithout producing any discomfort to users.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a warning signal is output toprompt users to “reshoot” or “reshoot with changed shooting method.”

For example, a warning signal is output such as “The influence ofparallax or moving objects appeared in the image. Please reshoot with areduced radius of rotation.”

As described above, in the fourth configuration, since the presence ofmoving objects can be detected right after the shooting, it is possibleto do reshooting.

As a result, since the influence of parallax can be detected right afterthe shooting, it is possible to do reshooting.

Next, the fifth configuration will be described.

[Fifth Configuration]

In the fifth configuration, an appropriate value of the sweeping angularvelocity (the speed at which the user sweeps the camera) is notified tousers and a warning signal is output if the sweeping is too fast,thereby prompting the users to reshoot.

As described above, the microcomputer 162 graphically displays time andoutput (sweeping angular velocity) of a position sensor (gyro sensor),respectively, on the horizontal and vertical axes of a screen of adisplay unit 18, e.g., an LCD.

Since the maximum sweeping angular velocity is determined when ahorizontal angle of view, a horizontal pixel number, and a shutter speedare set, a 60 to 80% of the maximum sweeping angular velocity isdisplayed on the graph as an appropriate range RNG as shown in FIG. 4.

An overview of the operation procedures is as follows.

[1] The camera is swept with the pressed start button of the operationunit 19 and then the start button is released.[2] The sweeping angular velocity during the pressed state of the startbutton is displayed on the screen of the display unit 18 as illustratedin FIG. 4.[3] The warning signal is not output when the sweeping angular velocityis lower than the appropriate range RNG, but will be output when thesweeping angular velocity is higher than the appropriate range.

As described above, in the fifth configuration, since users are informedof the appropriate velocity, it is possible to eliminate inconveniencessuch that too fast sweeping results in no overlapping regions and tooslow sweeping results in imaging of a narrow scene.

An example of the processing for calculating the sweeping velocity willbe described with reference to FIGS. 22A to 22D.

<Calculation of Sweeping Velocity>

A method will be described for calculating such a sweeping velocity asto eliminating any problems in a blurring angle, a blurring pixel countwhen an exposure period, a pixel count, a readout period per one line,an angle of view, an overlapping ratio, and a frame rate are determined.

The lowest value of the sweeping velocities obtainable from threeformulas is the maximum angular velocity under that condition.

The tables shown in FIGS. 22A to 22D show the calculation results of theblurring pixel count and the frame rate when various parameters aregiven, such as, for example, an angle of view and a sweeping velocity.

The calculation results are obtained under different conditions [1] to[6].

The calculation results under the condition [1] in FIGS. 22A to 22D willbe described below.

The blurring angle ab2, the burring pixel count nb2, and the frame ratef are calculated as below from the calculation formulas on the right ofthe table in FIGS. 22A to 22D using the sweeping velocity vp, the angleof view th, the horizontal pixel count H, and the overlapping ratio k.

ab2=vp·(ts+n·rs)·1000

nb2=vp·(ts+n·rs)·H/th

f=100/(100−k)·H·vp/n/th

From these equations, the sweeping velocity vp becomes as follows.

vp=1000ab2/(ts+n·rs)[deg]  (1)

vp=nb2·th/H/(ts+n·rs)[deg/sec]  (2)

vp=(100−k)/100·n·th·f/H  (3)

Here, when the blurring angle ab2 is 0.28 degrees, the exposure periodis 1 msec, the shorter-side pixel count n is 400 pixels, and the readoutperiod per one line rs is 7.8 μsec, the sweeping velocity vp becomes 68deg/sec.

Moreover, when the blurring pixel count nb2 is 19.9 pixels, thelonger-side angle of view th is 50 degrees, and the horizontal pixelcount H is 3560 pixels, the sweeping velocity vp becomes 68 deg/sec.

Furthermore, when the overlapping rate k is 20% and the frame rate f is15.13, the sweeping velocity vp becomes 68 deg/sec.

Therefore, when the parameters on the right sides of the formulas (1),(2), and (3) are changed, the sweeping velocity will be restricted bythe formulas.

When the camera is swept faster than the sweeping velocity vp obtainedby the formula (1), it may exceed the operation limit of an opticalimage stabilization element.

When the camera is swept faster than the sweeping velocity vp obtainedby the formula (2), the blurring amount may exceed an allowable limit.

When the camera is swept faster than the sweeping velocity vp obtainedby the formula (3), the overlapping range will decrease, and even willdisappear in some cases.

The first to fifth configurations described in detail hereinabove may besolely or entirely employed in the camera apparatus 10, and may beappropriately combined together to be employed therein.

The methods described in detail hereinabove may be implemented asprograms corresponding to the above-mentioned procedures to be executedby a computer such as a CPU.

Such programs may be accessed via a recording medium such as asemiconductor memory, a magnetic disc, an optical disc or a floppy (theregistered trademark) disc, or by a computer having such recordingmedium set therein, whereby the programs are executed.

The present application contains subject matter related to thatdisclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2008-312674 filedin the Japan Patent Office on Dec. 8, 2008, the entire contents of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging device that images anobject image through an optical system; an image signal processingsection having a function of combining a plurality of imaged images intoa combined image piece, the imaged images being obtained while theimaging apparatus is swept; a position sensor capable of obtainingposition information of the imaging apparatus; and a controller thatprocesses information of the position sensor, wherein the controllersends a notification of an appropriate value of a sweeping angularvelocity based on the detection information of the position sensor andoutputs a warning signal when the sweeping angular velocity exceeds anappropriate range.
 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a display unit, wherein the controller displays therelationship between time and the sweeping angular velocity on thedisplay unit together with the appropriate range.
 3. The imagingapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a speaker unit,wherein the controller outputs a warning sound via the speaker unit whenthe sweeping angular velocity exceeds the appropriate range.
 4. Theimaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein theappropriate range is set based on a maximum sweeping angular velocitywhich is determined by a horizontal view angle, a horizontal pixelcount, and a shutter speed.
 5. An imaging method comprising the stepsof: imaging an object image using an imaging device through an opticalsystem having an optical axis changing element that is capable ofchanging an optical axis thereof while sweeping the imaging apparatus;obtaining position information of the imaging apparatus via a positionsensor; sending a notification of an appropriate value of a sweepingangular velocity based on the detection information of the positionsensor; and outputting a warning signal when the sweeping angularvelocity exceeds an appropriate range.
 6. The imaging method accordingto claim 5, wherein the relationship between time and the sweepingangular velocity is displayed on a display unit together with theappropriate range.
 7. The imaging method according to claim 6, wherein awarning sound is output via a speaker unit when the sweeping angularvelocity exceeds the appropriate range.
 8. The imaging method accordingto any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the appropriate range is set basedon a maximum sweeping angular velocity which is determined by ahorizontal view angle, a horizontal pixel count, and a shutter speed. 9.A program for performing an imaging process, the program causing acomputer to execute the processes of: imaging an object image using animaging device through an optical system having an optical axis changingelement that is capable of changing an optical axis thereof whilesweeping the imaging apparatus; obtaining position information of theimaging apparatus via a position sensor; sending a notification of anappropriate value of a sweeping angular velocity based on the detectioninformation of the position sensor; and outputting a warning signal whenthe sweeping angular velocity exceeds an appropriate range.